“What reply do you want from me?” said Joam quietly.
“A reply,” slowly answered Torres, “that will keep me from finding out the chief of the police at Manaos, and saying to him, ‘A man is there whose identity can easily be established, who can be recognized even after twenty-five years’ absence, and this man was the instigator of the diamond robbery at Tijuco. He was the accomplice of the murderers of the soldiers of the escort; he is the man who escaped from execution; he is Joam Garral, whose true name is Joam Dacosta.’”
“And so, Torres,” said Joam Garral, “I shall have nothing to fear from you if I give the answer you require?”
“Nothing, for neither you nor I will have any interest in talking about the matter.”
“Neither you nor I?” asked Joam Garral. “It is not with money, then, that your silence is to be bought?”
“No! No matter how much you offered me!”
“What do you want, then?”
“Joam Garral,” replied Torres, “here is my proposal. Do not be in a hurry to reply by a formal refusal. Remember that you are in my power.”
“What is this proposal?” asked Joam.
Torres hesitated for a moment.